Study on Seismic Performance of Exterior Beam-Column Connection with Different Joint Core Details

Generally reinforced concrete exterior beam-column connections joint core are detailed with conventional standard 900 bent hooks for longitudinal beam reinforcement anchorages as per ACI 318, IS 456. Joint are detailed without confinement in seismic zone-II, with confinement in seismic zones-III to V as per IS 13920. This results in congestion of reinforcement in the joint core, concrete placement difficult at site. A potential solution for these problems with significant improvement in the seismic performance, strength, ductility, stiffness and lesser cracks ware observed by using mechanical anchorage as per ACI 352 in combination with additional X- cross bars plus hair clip joint reinforcement for zone-III to V and in combination with X-cross bars for zone-II. To evaluate the performances of these types of anchorages and joint details, the specimens assembled into four groups, each group having three specimens were tested under reversal loading.